Connection



July 9, 1968 J. SAMSON 3,391,706

CONNECTION Filed June 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .lnvsu'r f erre ean [0 JAMSON 57: AH'ormLy July 9, 1958 P. J- SAMSON CONNECTION led June 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

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IN vgw'rakz P/erre 7 am {0W6 SAMSON United States Patent 6 Claims. (a. 137--580) The present invention relates to a movable inlet connection to a main pipe for feeding a movable device with fluid circulating in said main pipe.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a unit supplying fresh clean air, that is unpolluted air, to vehicles in workshops heated by emanations of steam, fumes, gas-carrying dust, and in particular to the ventilation of the cabs of travellers or scale cars which travel in heated or polluted atmosphere in the houses of metallurgical works, for example charge-withdrawing travellers for pit furnaces, scale cars of blast furnaces transporting agglomerates etc.

Units of this type are already known and usually comprise an inlet for fresh clean air outside the heated house and, located inside the house, a tubular fresh air distributing duct provided with a longitudinal slot through which is inserted, in more or less hermetic manner, a movable connection by a flexible pipe to the cab of the vehicle. The efliciency of such units depends essentially on the sealing of the movable connection.

Now, the sealing device usually employed consists simply of a pair of flexible and elastic strips which cover the edges of the longitudinal slot of the fresh air distributing duct, these strips being applied elastically against each other and spreading apart when a movable connection passes therethrough. However, this device has the major drawback of lacking sealing qualities and this drawback becomes more serious with time since the strips gradually lose their elasticity. The fresh clean air then escapes to the atmosphere of the house outside the connection whereas the hot and soiled air enters the distribution duct.

The object of the present invention is to provide a movable connection which is improved in such manner as to remedy this drawback. This connection is movable on a fluid-distributing duct provided with a longitudinal slot and comprises in combination: a flexible and elastic element which closes the longitudinal slot of the duct in bearing against the edges thereof; a carriage which is movable along said longitudinal slot, connected by a flexible conduit to the device to be ventilated and provided with two end suspension rollers which roll along the inner face of the lower portion of the duct, said rollers co-operating with two curved guide surfaces for the flexible element; and at least one raising roller for raising said element above an air inlet nozzle which communicates with the interior of the duct and is connected to the flexible conduit, the flexible element extending between the end rollers and the corresponding guide surfaces and over the upper roller and forming inside the duct a loop which constitutes a fluid passage above said nozzle.

Owing to this arrangement, the connection according to the invention has excellent qualities.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings to which the invention is in no way limited.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly of a unit including the connection according to the invention.

FIG. 2. is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of a movable connection according to the invention;

3,391,706 Patented July 9, 1968 FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a variant.

The invention will be described in its application (FIG. 1) to a unit which comprises a fan V which is supplied with air from a pipe T provided with an air inlet 2. The fan V blows air for example to the lower part of a heat exchanger E where the air is cooled in contact with a cold fluid F supplied by a cooling device R or heated by a suitable installation, depending on whether it is desired to cool or heat the atmosphere in the cab. The cooled or heated clean air issues from the upper part of the exchanger E by way of the pipe T which leads to the interior of the house in which the travellers move. These travellers are shown diagrammatically by their cabs C. In this house a distributing duct G is connected to the pipe T in a closed circuit.

The cab C, or each traveller, receives fresh air by way of a flexible conduit A which is connected to said duct G by a movable connection carriage B described hereinafter. The cab C is connected to the carriage B for example by a bar D.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the freshair distributing duct E consists for example of a sheet metal assembly having a rectangular section and provided if desired with insulating means or lagging. It comprises on its lower face a longitudinal slot 1. This slot is closed by a flexible and elastic strip 2 having the same length as the duct G. This strip is rigidly secured to the duct G at the ends thereof. It covers the edges 3 of the slot 1 on the inside of the duct G.

The carriage B is adapted to move along the edges 3 of the longitudinal slot 1 of the duct G and comprises a chassis 4 having a generally rectangular-sided shape, the width of the chassis being slightly less than that of the slot 1 (see FIG. 3) so that the chassis can extend into the duct G. It is suspended from this duct and is movable along the edges 3 of the slot 1 owing to the provision of two rollers 5 which are mounted on the ends of the chassis inside the duct, the axis of these rollers extending transversely of the duct. The rollers 5 have a length which substantially corresponds to the width of the strip 2. The chassis 4 carries between these rollers 5 above the latter and in parallel relation thereto an upper roller 6 which is identical to the rollers 5 and is adapted to raise the strip 2 inside the duct. The strip passes under the rollers 5 and over the roller 6. The rollers 5 cooperate with concave guide surfaces 7 which are provided on the chassis 4 and have a portion of curvature corresponding to that of the strip 2 in the part of the latter extending around the rollers 5 and a portion corresponding to the tangent to the curved portion adjacent the portion of the strip 2 located between each roller 5 and the roller 6. A gap corresponding to the thickness of the strip 2 is pro vided between the rollers 5 and theguide surfaces 7.

The rollers 5 therefore do not roll directly on the edges 3 of the longitudinal slot but on the flexible strip 2 which they apply in a sealed manner against the edges of this slot.

The chassis 4 of the carriage B comprises in the middle between the surfaces 7 and below the upper roller 6, an upwardly divergent air inlet nozzle 9 which extends into the duct G. This nozzle is connected at its upper part to the guide surfaces 7 and at its lower part to the flexible conduit A supplying air to the cab C.

As can be seen, the flexible strip 2 forms a loop clearing the entrance of the nozzle 9 in passing through the gap 8 between the rollers 5 and surfaces 7 and over the raising roller 6.

The chassis 4 of the carriage carries further rollers 10 (FIG. 3) which afford the carriage a lateral guide.

These rollers have vertical axes and roll along metal guide sections, for example angle-irons 11, which are secured inside the duct G and are parallel to the edges 3 of the longitudinal slot. A pair of elastic sealing elements 12 secured to the lower part of the chassis 4i bear in a sealing manner against the lower face of the marginal portions 3 of the longitudinal slot of the duct.

The unit operates in the following manner:

When a cab C is in motion, the carriage B connected to the latter by the bar D rolls along the duct G owing to the rollers 5 which suspend the carriage from the duct. In the course of this motion, the rollers 5 strongly apply the strip 2 against the marginal portions 3 of the slot at both ends of the carriage. The strip 2 is also urged against the portions 3 owing to the weight of the carriage. The rollers 5 also apply the strip 2 against the guide surfaces 7 and thus prevent practically any escape of air between the strip 2 and the carriage. The upper roller 6 raises the strip 2 and forms a loop portion which clears the entrance of the nozzle 9. The strip 2 is applied against the surfaces 7 near to the nozzle 9 and the fresh air which flows in the duct G is directed towards the nozzle 9. The fresh air enters laterally in the direction of the arrows f on either side of the raised loop portion of the strip 2, flow-s through the nozzle 9 and into the flexible conduit A and cab C to be ventilated. The carriage B t-hus opens a passage to fresh air between the rollers 5 whereas the flexible strip 2 is closed in a scaled manner and applied against the marginal portions 3 of the longitudinal slot 1 immediately after the passage of the carriage.

As can be seen, the fact that the fresh air can only issue from the duct G by way of the nozzle 9 is due to the seal afforded at the ends of the carriage B by the combination of the strip 2, the rollers 5 and the guide surfaces '7 and to the seal near to the upper edges of the nozzle 9 afforded by the strip 2 applied against the parts of the surfaces 7 near the upper edges of this nozzle.

The special shape of the surfaces 7 comprising the arcuate portion adjacent the strip 2 extending around the rollers 5 and the straight tangent portion extending upwardly from the rollers 5, thus performs an important function in the construction of these sealing means.

Further, the hot soiled exterior air cannot enter the duct owing to the outer sealing afforded by the sealing elements 12 applied against the marginal portions 3 of the longitudinal slot.

Consequently, the combination of the movable carriage B and the strip 2 in accordance with the invention ensures an excellent sealing of the fresh-air distributing duct G since this combination ensures that the flexible strip 2 is strongly applied against the edges of the slot 1 of the duct so that there is no loss of fresh air to the eX- terior of the moving connection and this renders the operation of the duct and connection particularly economical.

It will be observed that apart from the part of the strip 2. raser upon the passage of the carriage B, the strip rests on the marginal portions 3 of the duct G owing to its weight and under the effect of the air pressure prevailing in the duct. This ensures a sealed closure of the slot 1 throughout the length of the duct.

This movable connection is fluidtight in respect of a static pressure of the air of the order of 40 of water. This greatly exceeds the pressure of -15 mm. of water which is sufficient for a good ventilation.

Instead of employing a flat strip 2 as the closing element of the slot, it is possible to employ any flexible and elastic element, for example having a round or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape 2a (FIG. 4), which fits into the slot 1 from inside the duct.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Thus, instead of employing a single roller for raising the flexible strip, two rollers could be employed. Further, the movable connection according to the invention is also applicable to a system distributing gaseous or liquid fluid under a limited pressure.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A structure comprising a movable connection, a fluid-distributing duct having two marginal portions defining a longitudinally extending slot which puts the interior of the duct in communication with the exterior, a longitudinally extending flexible and elastic element located inside said duct in abutting relation to said marginal portions and closing said slot, a carriage movable along said slot, a fluid inlet nozzle supported on said carriage and putting the interior of said duct in communication with the exterior, a flexible conduit connected to said nozzle for putting the interior of said duct in communication with a device intended to receive said fluid, two end suspension rollers rotatably mounted on said carriage and bearing on said flexible element, two curved guide surfaces on said carriage respectively cooperating with said two rollers to form two arcuate gaps, at least one raising roller rotatably mounted on said carriage above said nozzle, said flexible element extending through said gaps and over said raising roller and forming inside said duct a loop portion which defines a passage for said fluid from the interior of said duct to said nozzle.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible element is a strip having a thin rectangular crosssectional shape.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible element has a non-rectangular cross-sectional shape and fits inside said slot.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said curved guide surfaces are located under said end rollers and have a shape corresponding to the arc of winding of said strip around said end rollers, said guide surfaces including an upwardly extending straight portion tangent to the curved portion of the guide surfaces, said gap between the end rollers and said guide surfaces corresponding to the thickness of said flexible element.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising lateral guide rollers rotatably mounted on said carriage, and longitudinally extending rolling surfaces fixed inside said duct alongside said marginal portions of said duct, said guide rollers bearing against said guide surfaces and guiding said carriage in the movements thereof along said slot.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two outer flexible and elastic sealing elements mounted on said carriage and yieldably bearing against the outside of said marginal portions of said duct.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,634,560 4/1953 Ramm 137-580 2,743,661 5/1956 Schanz 137-580 3,019,813 2/1962 Dornmann 137580 3,349,794 10/1967 Behlen 137580 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

W. R. CLINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STRUCTURE COMPRISING A MOVABLE CONNECTION, A FLUID-DISTRIBUTING DUCT HAVING TWO MARGINAL PORTIONS DEFINING A LONGITUDIANLLY EXTENDING SLOT WHICH PUTS THE INTERIOR OF THE DUCT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXTERIOR, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC ELEMENT LOCATED INSIDE SAID DUCT IN ABUTTING RELATION TO SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS AND CLOSING SAID SLOT, A CARRIGE MOVABLE ALONG SAID SLOT, A FLUID INLET NOZZLE SUPPORTED ON SAID CARRIAGE AND PUTTING THE INTERIOR OF SAID DUCT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXTERIOR, A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID NOZZLE FOR PUTTING THE INTERIOR OF SAID DUCT IN COMMUNICATION WITH A DEVICE INTENDED TO RECEIVE SAID FLUID, TWO END SUSPENSION ROLLERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE 